BILL AS INTRODUCED S.103
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VT LEG #380759 v.2
S.103 1
Introduced by Senators Douglass, Baruth, Beck, Bongartz, Brennan, 2
Chittenden, Collamore, Cummings, Gulick, Hardy, Hart, 3
Heffernan, Lyons, Major, Mattos, Norris, Perchlik, Plunkett and 4
Williams 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Motor vehicles; equipment; inspection; inspection manual 8
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 9
Department of Motor Vehicles to update the Periodic Inspection Manual to 10
clarify that rust, corrosion, or torn metal on a vehicle body, frame, component, 11
or part that is cosmetic in nature and does not materially diminish the structural 12
integrity of the vehicle or pose a danger shall not be grounds for a vehicle to 13
fail its annual inspection. 14
An act relating to updating the Periodic Inspection Manual 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT; VEHICLE RUST 17
It is the intent of the General Assembly that rust, corrosion, or torn metal on 18
a motor vehicle body, frame, component, or part that is cosmetic in nature and 19
does not materially diminish the structural integrity of the vehicle or pose a 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.103
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VT LEG #380759 v.2
material danger to the individual operating the motor vehicle, any passengers 1
in the motor vehicle, or other highway users shall not cause the vehicle to fail 2
the annual safety inspection required pursuant to 23 V.S.A. ยง 1222. 3
Sec. 2. RULEMAKING; PERIODIC INSPECTION MANUAL; VEHICLE 4
RUST; OUTREACH 5
(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, unless extended by the 6
Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, adopt amendments to 7
Department of Motor Vehicles, Inspection of Motor Vehicles (CVR 14-050-8
022) consistent with the legislative intent in Sec. 1 of this act to be effective on 9
or before January 1, 2026. The amendments shall: 10
(1) specifically address the difference between: 11
(A) rust, corrosion, or torn metal on a motor vehicle body, frame, 12
component, or part that materially diminishes the structural integrity of the 13
vehicle or poses a material danger to the individual operating the motor 14
vehicle, any passengers in the motor vehicle, or other highway users; and 15
(B) rust, corrosion, or torn metal on a motor vehicle body, frame, 16
component, or part that is cosmetic in nature and does not materially diminish 17
the structural integrity of the vehicle or pose a material danger to the individual 18
operating the motor vehicle, any passengers in the motor vehicle, or other 19
highway users; and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.103
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VT LEG #380759 v.2
(2) provide clear graphical examples of how to determine if rust, 1
corrosion, or torn metal on a motor vehicle body, frame, component, or part is 2
significant enough to materially diminish the structural integrity of the vehicle 3
or pose a material danger to the individual operating the motor vehicle, any 4
passengers in the motor vehicle, or other highway users. 5
(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall 6
issue an administrative bulletin to all inspection mechanics certified by the 7
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles that: 8
(1) details the amendments to the Periodic Inspection Manual adopted 9
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; 10
(2) explains the difference between: 11
(A) rust, corrosion, or torn metal on a motor vehicle body, frame, 12
component, or part that materially diminishes the structural integrity of the 13
vehicle or poses a material danger to the individual operating the motor 14
vehicle, any passengers in the motor vehicle, or other highway users; and 15
(B) rust, corrosion, or torn metal on a motor vehicle body, frame, 16
component, or part that is cosmetic in nature and does not materially diminish 17
the structural integrity of the vehicle or pose a material danger to the individual 18
operating the motor vehicle, any passengers in the motor vehicle, or other 19
highway users; and 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.103
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VT LEG #380759 v.2
(3) provides information that an inspection mechanic shall provide to 1
the owner of a vehicle that fails inspection because of rust, corrosion, or torn 2
metal on the vehicle body, frame, component, or part. 3
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4
This act shall take effect on passage. 5